HOW TO: Automate MapPoint by Using Visual Basic. NET (305200)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft MapPoint 2002
- Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (2002)
This article was previously published under Q305200 For a Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 version of this
article, see
236615. IN THIS TASKSUMMARY This step-by-step article demonstrates how to use MapPoint
2002 functionality from an Automation client that is developed with Visual
Basic .NET. This article describes each step that is involved in building the
Automation client. You may also download this sample.
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Sample MapPoint Automation Client The sample code demonstrates how to add custom Pushpins and
user-designed features that are mapped from a custom database. The sample
includes custom Pushpins and an Excel workbook that contains geographic
locations that define a custom power-line grid. The Pushpins and the workbook
are used to illustrate mapping custom geographic features.
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Download the SampleThe following
file is available for download from the Microsoft Download
Center:
Release Date: January 23, 2002
For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services
Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.
The Mappoint2002demo.exe (or
Mappoint2002demo.hqx) file contains the following files:
Folder File name File Size
------------------ ----------------------------------- ---------
..\MapPointDemo
AssemblyInfo.vb 5KB
Form1.resx 8KB
Form1.vb 22KB
MapPointDemo.sln 1KB
MapPointDemo.suo 7KB
MapPointDemo.vbproj 5KB
MapPointDemo.vbproj.user 2KB
Eula.txt
..\MapPointDemo\obj
Interop.MapPoint.dll 100KB
..\MapPointDemo\obj\Debug
MapPointDemo.exe 36KB
MapPointDemo.MapPointDemoFrm.Resources 3KB
MapPointDemo.pdb 30KB
..\MapPointDemo\Samples
Grid.xls 15KB
SampData.xls 52KB
SubStation.bmp 4KB
TransmissionTower.bmp 4KB
..\MapPointDemo\Templates
New North American Map.ptt 5KB
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Run the Sample- Extract the contents of Mappoint2002demo.exe to the C:\MapPointDemo folder.
- Open Mappointdemo.sln in Microsoft Visual Studio
.NET.
- Press F5 to build and run the sample.
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Create the Sample- Start Visual Studio .NET. On the File menu, click New and then click Project. Under Project types click Visual Basic Projects, then click Windows Application under Templates. For the Project Name type C:\MapPointDemo, and for Location type C:\. Click OK. Form1 is created by default.
- Starting at the top of Form1 and working down, add 10 Button controls, 1 Label control, and a ListBox control (in that order). Resize the form as needed to accommodate
the controls.
- Select the 10 buttons on the form and set the Size property to 200,24.
- Add a reference to the MapPoint 9.0 object library. To do
this, follow these steps:
- On the Project menu, click Add Reference.
- On the COM tab, locate Microsoft MapPoint 9.0 Object Library and click Select.
- Click OK in the Add References dialog box to accept your selections. If you receive a prompt to
generate wrappers for the libraries you selected, click Yes.
- Double-click Form1 to view the code behind the form, and
then replace the following code
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles MyBase.Load
End Sub
with:
Dim oApp As MapPoint.Application
Dim WithEvents oMap As MapPoint.Map
' With events.
Dim oDataMap As MapPoint.DataMap
Dim oWaypoint1 As MapPoint.Waypoint
Dim oWaypoint2 As MapPoint.Waypoint
Dim oRoute As MapPoint.Route
Dim oFindResults As MapPoint.FindResults
Dim oLocation1 As MapPoint.Location
Dim oLocation2 As MapPoint.Location
Dim oLocation3 As MapPoint.Location
Dim oPushPin1 As MapPoint.Pushpin
Dim oPushPin2 As MapPoint.Pushpin
Dim oPushPin3 As MapPoint.Pushpin
Dim MapPath As String
Dim sMePath As String
Dim oShape1 As MapPoint.Shape
Dim oShape2 As MapPoint.Shape
Dim oSymbols As MapPoint.Symbols
Dim oSymbol1 As MapPoint.Symbol
Dim oSymbol2 As MapPoint.Symbol
Dim dsGrid As MapPoint.DataSet
Dim dsRs As MapPoint.Recordset
Dim aGrid(,) As Object
' Visual Basic .NET requires you to declare dimension count - therefore, 2 dimensions.
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles MyBase.Load
Button1.Text = "First Location"
Button2.Text = "Target Restaurants"
Button3.Text = "Next Location"
Button4.Text = "Wire Location 1 to Location 2"
Button5.Text = "Extend Line to Latitude-Longitude"
Button6.Text = "Get the Route"
Button7.Text = "Hide the Itinerary"
Button8.Text = "Map Custom Assets"
Button9.Text = "Map Sales Data"
Button10.Text = "Quit"
Button2.Enabled = False
Button3.Enabled = False
Button4.Enabled = False
Button5.Enabled = False
Button6.Enabled = False
Button7.Enabled = False
sMePath = "C:\MapPointDemo"
' Path to Symbols collection.
MapPath = "C:\MapPointDemo\Templates\New North American Map.ptt"
' Customize this for your system.
oApp = CreateObject("Mappoint.Application")
oApp.Left = 10
oApp.Top = 10
oApp.Visible = True
oApp.WindowState = MapPoint.GeoWindowState.geoWindowStateNormal
oMap = oApp.NewMap(Template:=MapPath)
End Sub
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button1.Click
'Map the first location - a bus stop at 3rd and Pine, in Seattle, WA.
' Initialize objects of the form.
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Text = ""
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
Button2.Enabled = True
Button3.Enabled = True
Button8.Enabled = True
' Initialize the MapStyle in case you mapped sales by county before
' clicking here.
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
oFindResults = oMap.FindAddressResults("3rd Ave & Pine St", "Seattle", , _
"Wa", 98101, MapPoint.GeoCountry.geoCountryUnitedStates) '.Item(1)
oLocation1 = oFindResults(1)
oLocation1.GoTo()
oPushPin1 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation1, Name:="Downtown Seattle")
oPushPin1.BalloonState = MapPoint.GeoBalloonState.geoDisplayBalloon
End Sub
Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button2.Click
' Show the Chinese, steak, and seafood restaurants within 0.2 miles
' of the bus stop.
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Text = ""
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oPushPin1.Symbol = 180
' Standard Bus Symbol.
oPushPin1.Note = "Bus Stop"
oPushPin1.BalloonState = MapPoint.GeoBalloonState.geoDisplayName
oLocation1.FindNearby(Distance:=0.2)
oMap.PlaceCategories.Visible = MapPoint.GeoTriState.geoFalse
' Hide them all at first.
Dim i As Integer
ListBox1.Items.Add("Built-in Place Categories")
' Title for the list to be inserted.
For i = 1 To oMap.PlaceCategories.Count
ListBox1.Items.Add(" " & oMap.PlaceCategories(i).Name)
' Show list of built-in place categories.
If oMap.PlaceCategories(i).Name = "Restaurants - Chinese" _
Or oMap.PlaceCategories(i).Name = "Restaurants - Steak" _
Or oMap.PlaceCategories(i).Name = "Restaurants - Seafood" Then
oMap.PlaceCategories(i).Visible = True
' Show just these three categories.
End If
Next i
oFindResults = oLocation1.FindNearby(Distance:=0.2)
' Count the visible ones.
Label1.Text = "Count of target restaurants is " & oFindResults.Count - 1
' Omit the bus stop.
Label1.Show()
End Sub
Private Sub Button3_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button3.Click
' Locate a picturesque waterfront location in Kirkland, WA.
Label1.Text = ""
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
Button4.Enabled = True
oPushPin1.BalloonState = MapPoint.GeoBalloonState.geoDisplayName
oFindResults = oMap.FindAddressResults("Central Way & Lake Ave W", "Kirkland", , _
"Wa", 98033, MapPoint.GeoCountry.geoCountryUnitedStates)
'.Item(1)
oLocation2 = oFindResults(1)
oLocation2.GoTo()
oPushPin2 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation2, Name:="Favorite Corner")
oPushPin2.BalloonState = MapPoint.GeoBalloonState.geoDisplayBalloon
End Sub
Private Sub Button4_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button4.Click
' Stretch a transmission line from Kirkland to the bus stop at
' 3rd and Pine in downtown Seattle.
' Use a custom Pushpin icon for Transmission towers.
Label1.Text = ""
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
oMap.Altitude = 25
oSymbols = oMap.Symbols
If oSymbols.Count <= 256 Then
' Do not create these more than once.
oSymbol1 = oSymbols.Add(sMePath & "\Samples\TransmissionTower.bmp")
oSymbol1.Name = "TransmissionTower"
oSymbol2 = oSymbols.Add(sMePath & "\Samples\SubStation.bmp")
oSymbol2.Name = "SubStation"
End If
oPushPin2.BalloonState = MapPoint.GeoBalloonState.geoDisplayNone
oShape1 = oMap.Shapes.AddLine(BeginLocation:=oLocation1, EndLocation:=oLocation2)
oShape1.Line.Weight = 1
' Pixel
oShape1.Line.ForeColor = RGB(255, 64, 0)
oPushPin1.Symbol = oSymbol1.ID
' Custom Symbol for Transmission Tower
oPushPin1.Name = "Grid Start"
oPushPin2.Symbol = oSymbol1.ID
Button5.Enabled = True
End Sub
Private Sub Button5_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button5.Click
' Extend the line to a latitude-longitude location in Redmond, WA.
' Use another custom Pushpin icon for "Substation".
Label1.Text = ""
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
oLocation3 = oMap.GetLocation(47.63862, -122.13107, 500)
oPushPin3 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation3, Name:="Substation 345")
oPushPin3.BalloonState = MapPoint.GeoBalloonState.geoDisplayName
oPushPin3.Symbol = oSymbol2.ID
' Custom Symbol for Substation
oShape2 = oMap.Shapes.AddLine(BeginLocation:=oLocation2, EndLocation:=oLocation3)
oShape2.Line.Weight = 1
oShape2.Line.ForeColor = RGB(255, 64, 0)
oPushPin3.Highlight = True
oMap.Altitude = 30
Button6.Enabled = True
End Sub
Private Sub Button6_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button6.Click
' Map a driving route and itinerary from Seattle to Redmond.
Label1.Text = ""
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
oRoute = oMap.ActiveRoute
oWaypoint1 = oRoute.Waypoints.Add(Anchor:=oLocation1)
oWaypoint2 = oRoute.Waypoints.Add(Anchor:=oLocation3)
oRoute.Calculate()
Button7.Enabled = True
End Sub
Private Sub Button7_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button7.Click
' Remove the itinerary from the screen.
Label1.Text = ""
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
oApp.ItineraryVisible = False
End Sub
Private Sub Button8_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button8.Click
' Map a distribution network from your own records (an Excel worksheet).
Label1.Text = ""
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleRoad
oSymbols = oMap.Symbols
oSymbol1 = oSymbols.Add(sMePath & "\Samples\TransmissionTower.bmp")
oSymbol1.Name = "Trans.Tower"
oSymbol2 = oSymbols.Add(sMePath & "\Samples\SubStation.bmp")
oSymbol2.Name = "SubStn"
Dim MKGrid As String
MKGrid = sMePath & "\Samples\Grid.xls!Sheet1!A1:E100"
' More rows than needed
ReDim aGrid(4, 1)
'Values are UBounds, not element count.
aGrid(0, 0) = "ID"
aGrid(0, 1) = MapPoint.GeoFieldType.geoFieldData
aGrid(1, 0) = "Structure Name"
aGrid(1, 1) = MapPoint.GeoFieldType.geoFieldName
aGrid(2, 0) = "Type"
aGrid(2, 1) = MapPoint.GeoFieldType.geoFieldData
aGrid(3, 0) = "Latitude"
aGrid(3, 1) = MapPoint.GeoFieldType.geoFieldLatitude
aGrid(4, 0) = "Longitude"
aGrid(4, 1) = MapPoint.GeoFieldType.geoFieldLongitude
dsGrid = oMap.DataSets.ImportData(DataSourceMoniker:=MKGrid, ImportFlags:= _
MapPoint.GeoImportFlags.geoImportExcelA1 Or _
MapPoint.GeoImportFlags.geoImportFirstRowIsHeadings, _
ArrayOfFields:=aGrid)
dsGrid.ZoomTo()
Dim iRecordCount As Integer
iRecordCount = dsGrid.RecordCount
Dim PinArray(,) As Object
ReDim PinArray(dsGrid.RecordCount - 1, 4)
' UBound =(records in the dataset-1)
Dim iElement As Integer
' Index to rows in PinArray.
dsRs = dsGrid.QueryAllRecords
' Build a recordset so that you can look at the records of the
' dataset.
dsRs.MoveFirst()
Do While Not dsRs.EOF
' Sequence of records in dsRs is arbitrary, so resequence by ID.
iElement = dsRs.Fields(1).Value
'ID of record in dsRs.
PinArray(iElement - 1, 0) = iElement
'Save in array as ID.
PinArray(iElement - 1, 1) = dsRs.Fields(2).Value
'Structure name.
PinArray(iElement - 1, 2) = dsRs.Fields(3).Value
'Type.
PinArray(iElement - 1, 3) = dsRs.Fields(4).Value
'Latitude.
PinArray(iElement - 1, 4) = dsRs.Fields(5).Value
'Longitude.
dsRs.MoveNext()
Loop
dsGrid.Delete()
' Remove its Pushpins from the map.
Dim i As Integer
For i = 1 To iRecordCount - 1
' Move through records in original order.
oLocation2 = oMap.GetLocation(PinArray(i - 1, 3), PinArray(i - 1, 4))
oLocation3 = oMap.GetLocation(PinArray(i, 3), PinArray(i, 4))
If PinArray(i - 1, 2) = 1 Then
oPushPin2 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation2, Name:=
PinArray(i - 1, 1))
oPushPin2.Symbol = oSymbol2.ID
oPushPin2.Highlight = True
Else
oPushPin2 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation2, Name:= _
PinArray(i - 1, 1))
oPushPin2.Symbol = oSymbol1.ID
End If
oShape2 = oMap.Shapes.AddLine(BeginLocation:=oLocation2, EndLocation:= _
oLocation3)
oShape2.Line.Weight = 1
oShape2.Line.ForeColor = RGB(255, 64, 0)
Next i
If PinArray(i - 1, 2) = 1 Then
oPushPin3 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation3, Name:= _
PinArray(i - 1, 1))
oPushPin3.Symbol = oSymbol2.ID
' Substation custom Pushpin.
oPushPin3.Highlight = True
Else
oPushPin3 = oMap.AddPushpin(AtLocation:=oLocation3, Name:= _
PinArray(i - 1, 1))
oPushPin3.Symbol = oSymbol1.ID
' Transmission Tower custom Pushpin.
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Button9_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button9.Click
' Map sales data for counties in Massachusetts, showing sized
' circles.
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Text = ""
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
Button2.Enabled = False
Button3.Enabled = False
Button4.Enabled = False
Button5.Enabled = False
Button6.Enabled = False
Button7.Enabled = False
Button8.Enabled = False
oMap.MapStyle = MapPoint.GeoMapStyle.geoMapStyleData
Dim oField As MapPoint.Field
dsGrid = oApp.ActiveMap.DataSets.ImportData(DataSourceMoniker:= _
"C:\MapPointDemo\Samples\SampData.xls!Massachusetts Sales!A1:H15")
dsGrid.ZoomTo()
oField = dsGrid.Fields("2000 ($)")
' Chosen column of worksheet.
oDataMap = dsGrid.DisplayDataMap(DataMapType:= _
MapPoint.GeoDataMapType.geoDataMapTypeSizedCircle, _
DataField:=oField, _
ShowDataBy:=MapPoint.GeoShowDataBy.geoShowByDefault, _
DataRangeCount:=5, _ DataRangeType:= _
MapPoint.GeoDataRangeType.geoRangeTypeDiscreteEqualRanges, _
DataRangeOrder:= _
MapPoint.GeoDataRangeOrder.geoRangeOrderDefault, _
ColorScheme:=MapPoint.GeoDataConstants.geoColorSchemeDefault)
oDataMap.LegendTitle = "Sales By County - Year 2000"
Button9.Enabled = False
End Sub
Private Sub Button10_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles Button10.Click
Form_Unload(0)
Me.Close()
End Sub
Private Sub Form_Unload(ByVal Cancel As Integer)
If Not (oMap Is Nothing) Then
oMap.Saved = True
' Forestall the "Save Changes?" dialog box.
oMap = Nothing
CType(oApp, MapPoint._Application).Quit()
' Cast to base type.
' Resolves ambiguity between Application.Quit() and
' Application_Events.Quit().
oApp = Nothing
End If
End Sub
Private Sub oMap_SelectionChange(ByVal NewSelection As Object,
ByVal OldSelection As Object) Handles oMap.SelectionChange
Label1.Text = "Handling An Event!"
ListBox1.Items.Clear()
Label1.Refresh()
ListBox1.Refresh()
If TypeName(NewSelection) = "Pushpin" Then
oPushPin1 = NewSelection
ListBox1.Items.Add("You selected " & oPushPin1.Name)
oPushPin1 = Nothing
ElseIf TypeName(NewSelection) = "Shape" Then
ListBox1.Items.Add("Shape")
Else
ListBox1.Items.Add("You selected a " & TypeName(NewSelection))
End If
ListBox1.Items.Add("Old Selection is a " & TypeName(OldSelection))
End Sub
- Press F5 to build and run the sample.
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Supporting Files and Customization The download contains several supporting files that the sample
program uses: a map template (New North American Map.ptt), custom Pushpin
bitmaps (Substation.bmp and Transmissiontower.bmp), and Excel workbooks
(Sampdata.xls and Grid.xls). Sampdata.xls is a sample workbook that
is included with MapPoint 2002; the workbook contains geographical information
for a list of hypothetical companies. MapPointDemo uses the data in this
workbook to produce a map that shows sales volume by location.
Grid.xls is a custom workbook that represents one way to provide external data
to a MapPoint session. MapPointDemo uses Grid.xls as the data source for the
location of elements of the electric power grid. The data denotes the type of
asset (transmission tower or substation) and its location in terms of latitude
and longitude. External data can come from a variety of sources, including
Excel workbooks, Access MDB tables, Microsoft SQL Server databases, or directly
from a Global Position Sensor. Grid.xls contains the following
information:
- ID (numeric; sequential numbers from 1 to 8)
- Structure name (character data)
- Type (numeric; used to denote which Pushpin to
apply)
- Latitude
- Longitude
You can obtain actual values for Latitude and Longitude by
using the Location Sensor tool that is found on the MapPoint Tools menu. Note that longitudes west of the Greenwich Prime Meridian
are negative. You can create your own custom Pushpin bitmaps by
using Microsoft Paint. The size for Pushpin bitmaps should be set to 32x32
pixels.
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REFERENCESFor additional information about Automating
MapPoint, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base: 302885 HOWTO: Use the MapPoint 2002 Control and Automation With Visual Basic to Save a Map as HTML
302897 HOW TO: Automate the MapPoint 2002 Control and Save the Map as HTML in Visual Basic .NET
| Modification Type: | Minor | Last Reviewed: | 8/9/2004 |
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| Keywords: | kbdownload kbAutomation kbfile kbHOWTOmaster KB305200 kbAudDeveloper |
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